Paarl riders will be aiming to spring a surprise or two in this year’s Absa Cape Epic as they test themselves against the world’s best in the 19th instalment of the prestigious eight-day stage race.
Set down for 19-26 March, this year’s Cape Epic starts with the Prologue on the trails of Meerendal Wine Estate in Durbanville before finishing on the exquisite fields of Val de Vie Estate in Paarl.
Paarl riders have been putting in the hard yards ahead of this year’s event, and will be going all out to improve on personal bests and possibly even give the leading contenders a run for their money.
Local professional cyclist HB Kruger, 31, is one of them.
“It’s great being able to rub shoulders against the best mountain bikers in the world on our doorstep,” he said. “The hype and the vibe around the race are very attractive to the local pros, including myself.”
Kruger switched from road cycling, where he competed internationally, to mountain biking, and in 2016 began to focus more on off-road and marathon events.
His race preparation had been going “extremely well” until February, when he took ill and later had to have his appendix removed.
“It’s not been ideal leading up to the Cape Epic, but I am back on the bike and making the most of the last couple days remaining to be in best possible condition to perform.”
Kruger is looking forward to partnering with Stellenbosch’s Gert Heyns in Team Valley Electrical Titan Racing.
“Gert joined the team this year after a stellar 2022 season of racing. He has a great pedigree at the Cape Epic and is very experienced in racing marathon races. He definitely brings a lot of strength as a rider and experience that was needed to complete the team as a more all round performing cycling team.”
Paarl local Erik Knoetze (61) has teamed up with long time friend Petie Viljoen to start his fourth Absa Cape Epic, where they will compete in the Great Grand Masters category.
“My partner was one of the very first people I met when I started the sport,” he said. “I actually bought my first proper bike from him, and we’ve been good mates ever since. This actually will be the first time we line up as partners, so I’m very excited.
“Having done many other races locally and overseas, to me the Epic is the best of them all. It has exciting and challenging routes, is exceptionally well-organised and enjoys super communication and coverage. It’s also a great advantage and privilege for me to do it as part of Team Absa.”
Meanwhile, it will be Neil Hugo’s first outing in the race, and will be one to remember; his partner is his 59-year-old mother Almarie.
“We have a nearly 30-year age difference but that is just a number in our case. She is a strong rider and has done an Epic before. She asked me to enter and with a little persuasion I had to say yes.”
Hugo (30) has followed quite an unusual training regimen in that he works on cargo vessels, so most of his preparation has been on an indoor trainer at sea.
“But with the help from Johann Wykerd from Absolute Motion I feel that we have done everything possible to prepare myself for the monumental challenge ahead.”
Absa Cape Epic
The Absa Cape Epic is the world’s premier mountain-bike stage race. The route changes every year, leading aspiring amateur and professional mountain bikers from around the world through roughly 700 km of unspoilt scenery and 15 000 m of accumulated climbing, over some of the most magnificent mountain passes in Western Cape in South Africa.
The race attracts professional and serious amateur riders from across the planet that participate in two-person teams. It’s a test of skill, fitness, partnership, equipment and mettle and provides a rider experience that is a benchmark for world mountain biking.
The Absa Cape Epic is a full-service race, meaning that everything is taken care of from the start – all riders need to think about is riding. It is the pinnacle event of the Epic Series which is a global portfolio of best-in-class mountain bike stage races.
